“In the belly of the beast, be indigestible.” – Daniel Liebert
You may have to go through hell at the tail end, but you will emerge yourself! Just take a good bath afterwards.
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
“A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.” – Rabindranath Tagore
I know this one is a bit creepy but the quote had knives and blood in it, what was I
going to do? But there is a truth here. The truth is that logic is a step-by-step
process of thinking through a problem, not a way of life or the exclusive method for
interpersonal relationships.
You ever come across that person who gets irate if you don’t comprehend
and go along with his or her logic? I used to be that person. I am still that person
some times. I thought I was right. I had my reasons. They were good reasons.
My arguments made sense. But the other person didn’t agree, didn’t see, didn’t
understand, or plain didn’t care. grrrrr.
It wasn’t until I went through marital counseling with my now unwife that I realized
the difference between trying to win an argument and trying to win someone over.
I had always just been thinking the logic of the argument was enough. After
the counseling I realized that the argument wasn’t what was important, my wife
was who was important.
Just as a side note, it was ironic that the best, most real communication we had
as a couple was in the final year of our marriage. It didn’t save our marriage
but it did teach us both great lessons on how to communicate and care for the
feelings and thoughts of another person. I am better for it and am grateful I went
through it, even though the cost was high.
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
“If a friend is in trouble don’t annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.” – Edward Watson Howe
Think of how many times you have been called when you have said ‘If there is anything I can do, just call’. Probably never. But there is always something to do. It may not be material; you may not bake a cake or casserole. It may simply be making your friend smile with a card on their windshield while they are at work (make sure it isn’t going to rain). It might be tending to their garden or mowing their lawn. It might be calling friends or doing updates for them on facebook or twitter to let their friends know what is going on.
Find a way to love them and do it.
drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
“No matter how happily a woman is married it always pleases her to discover that there is a nice man who wishes she were not.” – H. L. Mencken
The operative word here is ‘nice’. Nice means giving a compliment, a bit of attention, a kindness. It doesn’t mean manipulating, trying to steal affections, trying to disrupt something or trying to conquer.
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
“Common sense is not so common.” – Voltaire
How does one get common sense? While there are plenty of mysteries associated with it, one thing we know for certain. We have to teach the beginnings of it to our kids. It may seem like people should just know it, but in truth almost everything has to be learned, nothing is just intrinsically known. I know, I know, some things might be, ok, fine. But really, one of the reasons common sense is argued about is because people haven’t all been taught the same thing at the same time.
So, one of the greatest things you can do for your kids, nephews, nieces, grandkids, whoever, is to take the time to explain things that, in your mind, should be obvious, understanding that it isn’t obvious to that child. Whether it is pans that are hot, looking both ways at stop signs, or not eating yellow snow, it all needs to be explained.
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
“The fastest way to fill your life with things you want is to eliminate the things you don’t.” – Anonymous
It’s a simple idea, but I really haven’t thought about it this way before (or I did and forgot I did, which happens frequently). Think of it like your closet. Get rid of the clothes you don’t like and what do you have left?
I think for me, I have to start at the extremes to be successful. What am I SURE I don’t want in my life? Hatred, racism, sexism, intolerance, ugly furniture, tripe pasta, stuff like that I KNOW I don’t want and I get rid of it as best I can.
Start with one thing, one thing you DON’T want in your life. Maybe it is alcohol, maybe it is a backyard tiki lamp, maybe it is a person. It doesn’t really matter, jettison it, maybe just for a day, a week. See what happens. Likely you will find you have more of what you want and less of what you don’t!
You won’t know unless you take the step.
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
